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THE AEGUa MONDAY, MAT 18, 1891.
31'XEKXY THE ISSUE
Nub of the Trouble on the
Northwestern Road.
DECISION OF THE SUFREME COUKCIL
Lack or l'Jkiit.ity Or feats the Switch
men. Although They Had the Most
Volet Negotiation He t ween the Com
pany and the Trainmen, the Latter ol
Whom Made a Fight Tor MeNerny
Leaders ' of the- fcwftebmea Uenoonce
the Proceedings Views or the Other
fide Will Take Their Medicine.
CHICAGO, May 18. After a session
which-" lasted .from 11 . o'clock Saturday
morning tantil 1j o'clock at nijjtit the su
preme council of the United Order ot
Railway Employes decided to disapprove
the grievance ot the Switchmen's Mutual
Aid association against the Chicago and
Northwestern Riilroad company. The
members of the council present were:
Firemen F. P. Sargent, Eugene Debt;
switchmen Frank Sweeney, J. M.
Downey, Mties W. Barret; conductors
G. W. Howard. J. W. Martin. D. J. Carr;
trainmen S. E Wilkinson, V. A. Shea
han and I. W. R er. F. P. Sargent was
president and W. A. Sheahan secretary of
the council During the session the full
history of the difficulties between the
company and the switchmen was gone
into, especially that part relating to the
trouble arising out of the appointment of
McXerny as y,irdmater. Froai the out
set it was apparent that there was a bit
ter fight between the representatives of
the switchmen and the trainmen, the con
ductors leaning towards the switchmen,
while the firemen, in the person of the
president, seemed to favor the trainmen.
A Conspiracy Against the Switchmen.
It was jrought out during the discus
sion that the Brotherhood ot Trainmen
had determined to support McXerny,
who was a ineinler of their organization,
and it was shown that meetings had been
hld between the officials of the Brother
hoods of Trainmen and Firemen and the
officers of tl-e railway company to con
coct niea-tiivs to get rid ot the switch
men. It was pointed out that at these
meeting the trainmen, and firemen's
brotbert.oi. 1 had tieclared that it would
be irupooible for them to take the places
of any of the switchmen if they struck.
It whs also shown that various ways of
getting over the difficulty had been con
sidered At last a s-chenie was devised
and ncreed to by the chief officials of the
firemen ftud ttaiomen that the Chicago
and Northwestern Railroad company
should discharge all the switchmen on
acconnt ot some grievance, and that then
the trainmen and firemen could take
their places temporarily.
Holed Oat All the Charge.
"This agreement was made in writing,
and signed by representatives of tbe two
organ:ZHtions with the fnil connivance of
the chief executives of these organiza
tions. These charges made by the switch
men were, however, unheeded, and it was
ruled that the trainmen were not on trial
before the council; bat that what they
bad met to discuss was a grievance of the
switchmen." A vote was eventually or
dered to be taken on the question of ap
proving or disapproving of the switch
men's grievance. The firemen only having
two repreentatives present were not en
titled to vote, and this left the settlement
of the question to the conductors, switch
men and trainmen. By the rules of the
council a grievance to be approved must
have the unanimous vote of the organiza
tions, and if one vote is cast against it tbe
grievance is disapproved.
Itefused I'oint Blank to Obey.
The conductors and switchmen, or a to
tal of six, voted in favor of approving the
grievance and the trainmen. three in num
ber, voted to disapprove. In consequence
the switchmen lost their case, and the ac
tion of the road was sustained. A reso
lution was then introduced that all the
trainmen now in the service of the north
western road and filling the switchmen's
places should withdraw and make way
for those t-witchmen who had been dis
charged. This was carried by a vote of 6
to 3, and then Grand Master Wilkinson.
of the trainmen, got up and refused to
abide by the order, defying the council to
make him do so. W. A. Sheahau, the
secretary ot the trainmen, also refused
to send out any such order to bis men.
Itebs Makes a Warm Speech.
Eugene Debs, of the firemen, then made
a pretty warm speech, in which he scored
the action of Wilkinson and Sheahan in
defying the unc:L He said that it was
not tbe flr-t time they had done it, and if
matters were to be run in that way it
would be better to smash the federation
altogether. The resolution was with
drawn, and another resolution was offered
which allowed McXerny to be retained in
his present position, but providing for tbe
return f the discharged switchmen to
their old places. This was also opposed
most vehemently by the trainmen, and
ultimately it was withdrawn. A resolu
tion censuring the conspiring officials was
offered, but it also was withdrawn.
One Cranio of Comfort for the Switchmen
The council suggested that Grand Mas
ter Sweeney, on behalf of the switchmen,
should wait on the officials of the Xorth
weptern road and request that all the
switchmen wtio had been discharged, ex
cept those guilty of inciting to illegal
acts, should be reinstated. Grand Muster
Wilkinson was advised to see that as
many of the trainmen as possible should
return to their former business and leave
places open for the switchmen. The
council theu adjourned till their regular
meeting in June.
THE FIGHT WAS ON M'NERNY.
Remark on the Kesttlt from Men on Both
8ides of the Oiietli,n.
The contest centered from first to last
on McXerny. This was evident from the
utterances of the trainmen. Grandmas
ter Wilkinson said: "The uction of tbe
switchmen ou the Northwestern road was
unjustifiable. The decision of the coun
cil was against them. Tuey are arrogant.
Tbey kicked ou the discharge of Lindsay,
theu Ingalls, now McXerny. We cannot
be douiinaUd by them any loliger."
"We came - in berg 'to sustain Me
Nerny," said a trainman, "because he is a
member in good standing in pur organiza
tion. He was one of the first members ot
tbe organization, and has always lived up
to its rules and tbe railroad company's
orders. There are some men in .the
switch men's 'order who want to run all
the other organizations and the railroad
too.
The Rights of the Railway.
"While the men do tbe work we have
got to recognize tbe right of tberailrosl
to run it own property. Yet these switch
men have time and again disobeyed
orders, and have violated tbe rules t f
their organization. Twice they bare goce
on a strike without cause and against tte
rnles of their organization and of this
federation. They went after McNerny's
scalp, we stood by our member, and thei
tbey had him removed temporarily an I
declared that he would be driven out of
Chicago. He has cot been driven out of
Chicago; he is at work for the North
western railroad, and he has been sus
tained by this council.
The Discharged Switchmen.
"The large majority of those switchmen
are all right, and they will have but little
difficulty in getting back on the road. I
am confident that all of the out-of-towt
men will be put on when they make ap
plication, and that many of tbe Chicago
men will be reinstated. The disorderly
element has been disposed of for good.
Tbe Brotherhood of Trainmen will take
measures to have many of these men re
instated. But they cannot take our mem
bers' places."
Declares the Action Infamous.
Grand Master Frank Sweeney, of the
switchmen, said: "The action ot the
council was the most infamous that ever
took place in labor circles. It was a con
tpiracy between tbe Northwestern Railway
company and Sargent and Wilkinson to
'do up' the switchmen. It was an out
rage. The conductors voted with us, the
trainmen against us, and the firemen hav
ing no quorum present lost their vote.
This is tbe third time Sargent has played
the racket ot not having a q-uoruTU pres
ent of firemen when important questions
were to be acted on. I brand tue action
of this council to-day as a dama.tbld out
rage, an imposition on as honorable class
cf workingmen as ever lived, as a con
spiracy between the railroad company
and Sargent to down a labor union.
Knifed in the House of Their Friend.
We have nothing to ask of that coun
ciL We have helped all those men when
they needed our help. We will now help
ourselves. ilkinson, of the trainmen's
brotherhood, was told to go and see the
company in the interest ot our boys. Tbe
council will do what it can for them. But
w hat's the use talking. Here is a fi-lit
being made on the life of our organiza
tioa. A lellow-orgam.rttion is knifing
us. Will we fightf l):d you ever know a
t.me when a switchman would not tight?
1 wi,l tell you nothing of our plans. Our
grand lodge will meet to-morrow."
DEC;DED UPON SUBMISSION.
Switchmen Conclude 'ot to Make a Bad
Matter Worse.
Judging from present indications there
will be no further trouble between the
Clucago an l Xorthwesteru railway and
the discharged switchmen, nor is there
any likelihood of any disturbance
occurring on other ro.t'is. Th&
grand lode of the Switchmen's Ma
tual Aid association met yesterJay and
and discussed the action of the supreme
council Saturday. The course pursued by
the representatives of the trainmen and
President Sargeantwas unanimously con
demned, aud at oue time it looked very
much as it tbe switchmen would with
draw from the Federation. After some
discussion, however, it was decided not
to do so. but for the present at least to al
low matters to remain as to they were,
t xpect Some Official Scalps.
Grand Master Sweeney, in reply to a
question as to whether tbe association
would withdraw from the federation,
said: "I do not quite see what power we
have to do so. We do not hold the rank
and file of the Brotherhood of Trainmen
responsible for the base action of their
officers. Grund Master Wilkiuson and
Grand Scretary Sheahan, and we do not
believe that the brotherhood will sustain
them. There are dissensions in the
Brotherhood of Trainmen at this present
moment that will result in the over
throw of those officials at the next meet
ing. We do not hold the Northwestern
railway really responsible for the recent
difficulty, but we believe that Wilkinson
and Sheahan and a certain section of the
Brotherhood of Trainmen were responsi
ble for the whole difficulty."
Grand Master Sweeney's Advice.
"What will be tbe action of the switch
men in the future?'' was asked.
Mf they take my advice, and I think
they will, they will go back quietly to
work. We have no Wish to cripple the
Northwestern or any other road, nor to
inconvenience the public, and I think we
shall be able to show the people that we
have good discipline in the Switchmen's
association, and that switchmen are not
such bn 1 characters as some people would
like to paint them."
Meeting nf the Discharged Men.
Brick layers' hall was fikled with switch
nin from all parts of the city last night
to hear the report of Grand Master Swee
ney ou the"proceedings of the supreme
council. Vice Grand Master Downey
spoke briefly, denouncing tbe action of
the trainmen who have taken the places
of discharged switchmen. Grand Master
Sweeney spoke at considerable length,
condemning the representatives of the
trainmen and firemen in the supreme
council. All he could do was to advise
those switchmen who conld get employ
ment to do so. He could do nothing until
he was told they would be supported by
kindred organizations. The meeting
wound up harmoniously, Mr. Sweeney
being loudly cheered.
HEEER NEWTON'S HETERODOXY.
Bishop Butter Forced to Take Action
ill the Mutter.
New Yoiik, May 18. The charges
brought by Father Ignatius against the
orthodoxy of the Rav. R. Ueber Newton,
D. D., rector of All Soul's parish of this
city, have resulted in bringing out a
petition to Bishop Potter, of New York,
requesting that an inquiry be instituted
to ascertain the truth of the rumors re
specting the teaching of the reverend
gentleman. The two points in Dr. New
ton's teaching that are to be submitted
to the bishop are bis alleged denial of tbe
miraculous conception of Christ, and of
the resurrection of the human body of
Jesus. The petition is signed by nearly
all the high dignitaries of tbe Protestant
Episcopal church in the diocese, and
forces the bishop into a course iu which
silence can no longer to maintained.
Throe Ileum to Decide.
BonisviLLE, Ky., May 18 It took three
heats to decide the mile race at Churchill
Downs Saturday, comedy aud Ed. Leon
ine 1 coming iu even twice, in 1:45;. Beou
ard won the third heat iu the same time.
Other races: Sir Abuer, 1 mile 100 yards,
1:411; Huron, mile, 1:03; Hannah Mo-"
berly, mile, 0:5 Glockner, 1 1-16
miles, 1:52.
FIRST ARRIVALS. !
I
Delegates to the Cincinnati Na
tional Conference.
THE TALK AMONG THE KEFOEMEES.
Calamity" Weller, Speaker Elder, Gea.
Weaver, C. C. Post, and Other Leaders
on Hand The Important Question
That Will Have To Be First Settled
Shall a w Tarty Be Organized?
Jw the Delegates Feel on the Subject.
CurciKKATi, O." May 18.-The advance
guard of delegates to the National Union
convention, which opens to-morrow, was
straggliug in all yesterday, and about 200
of tbe 3,0(i0 or' more that it is expected
will participate in the deliberations of the
gathering were on the ground by night.
Many ot them are men whose rough at
tire, bronzed faces and horny hands be
token long acquaintanceship with the
plow and harrow. Others bear names
that are prominently identified with eco
nomic and radical movements.
Some of tbe Leader on Hand.
Among these are ex-Congressman Wel
ler, of Iowa, more familiarly known as
"Calamity Weller"; General Secretary
Hayes, of the Knights of Labor; W. G.
Crum, of New York, editor of The Wall
Street Farmer and president of the re
cently formed Natioual Union league; G.
I. Washburne, of Boston, president of the
Northeastern Industrial Alliance; Mason
A. Greene, of the Boston Nationalist club;
Col. S. F. Norton, of Chicago; W. f.
Wakefield, of the Lyun, Mass., Nationalist
club; John H. Crouch, of Fort Scott,
Kans., brother of the deceased Oklahoma
boomer, and C. C. Post, Georgia, the Al
liance leader of that state.
The Lion of the Hour.
The temporary lion of the hour is
Farmer H. B Brian, of Winn county.
La., w hose acceptance of a delegate's mis
sion necessitated his riding fifty miles on
a plantation pony to the nearest railway
station. His credentials bear tbe signa
tures of 1. 00 grangers oxx of a total vot
ing strength of 1,700 in the couuty. Strag
glers were also here from Maine, Ken
tucky, Texas, Tennessee, Minnesota and
other states, but the full delegations did
uot begin to arrive until to-day. The
Kansas contingent, which came in on
a special train of U'n cars, was met this
morning by the reception committee, all
tiie delegates in town, and a couple, of
brass bauds and escorted to hea.iquarters
in triumph.
Control of the (lathering.
De-p.te the fact that it is styled a con
vention, however, it is apparent thus
eaily that the forthcoming gathering will
be nothing more than a big mass meeting.
There has been no idea of conforming to a
basis cf representation. While it is
anticipated that two-thirds of the states
will te represented, yet two of them,
Kansas with her 500, and Ohio with
nearly as niimy u.ore, will control at least
a third of the total votes that will be
cast on every proposition. Hamilton
alone furnishes credentials for nearly 100
participants, representingsuch heterogen
eous elements as the Knights of Labor,
City Alliance, litilway Employes' asso
ciation. Municipal Congress, the United
Labor Party (composed of adherents of
Henry George), and the Nationalists or
Bellamyites.
sonthern Delegates Kicking.
A good many of tbe southern grangers
tre kicking over tbis condition of affairs,
tjnteudiug that it is unjust that after
traveling long distances iu order to repre
sent the views of their respective organi
sations t heir votes anil consequent influ
ence in shaping tne ends of the gathering
lould be 8 .vamped by packed delegations
f.'om near-by points. An effort (is
being made to bring about a feeling in
fivorof the adaption of the unite rule,
aad unless some such solution of the diffi
culty is found ther-j will be trouble just
as soon as the body gets down to busi
u .-ss.
Kesnlts Are Mighty Ousartin'.
As to the outcome of the conference
tl ere was not a delegate in town last
n.ght who was willing to express himself
w ith auy degree of confidence or certain
ty. There are two elements with widely
divergent intentions. One is desirous
tlat the conference shall bring a new
prty into existence, give it a name and
er;ct it upon a platform of declarations
atd principles. These are mostly from
tbe north and the west. The southerners,
DC the other hand, deprecate hasty action,
and urge that it would lie more politic to
limply reaffirm the views enunciated in
th-j St. Louis and Ocala platforms, ap
point an executive committee to continue
t Le propaganda, and assemble again next
spring to determine whether a third par
ty shall be brought into existence , and if
so to christen it aud place its candidates
in the field for the next presidential elec
;u u.
T he Knights Fighting for Time.
Men like I 'oik, of Georgia, and O'Brien,
of Louisiana, say that the Alliance men
of their respective states, who have hith
erto been allied withthe Democracy
not yet prepared to change their political
coats and go into a third party movement.
On the other hand such delegates as
Weller, of Iowa, and Greene, of Boston, are
working bard to bring about the formal
ini uguration of a third party, nod are
asking: u What else are we here forr" It
is an open secret that the Kuights of
Labor men, who will be reinforced by
Gei.eral Master Workman Powderly,
L-.-tttirer Ralph Beaumont, and John
Ue lin, of the executive board, are here
to 1 ght for time, with the View of putting
off dehnite actiou uutil after the meeting
of the Farmers' Alliance in February
next.
The Fight To Ite Promptly Begun.
Vie contest will be iuaugaarated on tbe
threshold of the conference. CoL S. F.
Norton and Lester C. Hubbard (publisher
of '1 he Farmers' Voice) will voice the de
nial d for a new party, a name and a plat
ford, to deal simply with finance, trans
portation aud tue laud question. The
southern elemeut, with its Knight of La
bor allies, will be willing to build a plat
form out of every plank and "ism" that
may be handed iu if the permanent or
ganization is deferred.
nearer "Piping Off" the Land.
Sp.-ak Elder, of the Kansas assembly, is
the unanimous choice of the delegates on
the ground for temporary chairman.
Eith'-r Cou'tressman Simpson, or Sena
torl'efTer will be the permanent officer.
Simpson and Gen. James B. Weaver, of
Iowj., were among tue late arrival last
night. The former is against a third
party inauguration at this juncture, while
the l itter is waiting to see how the land
lays.
A lirst-class milch cow tor sale at the
pssttre on Seventeenth street. Rock Isl
and. J. DTajlor.
TUESDAY, A. 1. 9 O'CLOCK.
The Greatest Bargains in PINE MILLINERY we
have ever shown. The like not seen in
Rock Island before.
123 dozen (1476 Hats and Bonnets )
42 dozen Misses' White Straw Hats, fancy loop braid, at 25c each.
23 dozen Ladies' Straw Bats and Bonnets, elegant shapes, new goods, drabs, browns stn
elates, navy and blacks. The greatest drive of the year. Yonr choice for 7c. ' '
28 dozen Misses' White Leghorn Shade Hats in five leadiDg shapes, all will go at 25c a
You have never before seen these goods sold for less than 75c to $1.50. '
30 dozen different kitds of hats all shapee, every color and style for the season, bought at
a fraction of real.value and will be sold as an advertisement, far below anything you have v
before heard quoted for high class millinery. .
e piaceu on saie .aionciay morning dozen uape May Shade llats at only 5c each. Th
will be continued as long as they last. .
Trimmed Sailor Hats for boys and girls, only 8c a piece.
A lot of white and colored wreaths go at 7c.
One case (50 pieces) 12c Dress Satines at 7c a yard. Not a large lot, govern vour-lv
accordingly. J -
A Shower of Roses for THURSDAY -
REMEiMBER, WE SAY THURSDAY.
5000 fine Roses and Poppies will be sold on Thursday at lc each, worth from five to tw-ntv
times the price named. " "
Special bargains in Flowers, Ribbons, and Trimmius. First come, first served, as we can
not be expected to trim all hats on same day order is given, but we have a large force of h-lr
and will do the veiy best we can.
McOABE BROS.
1712, 1714, 1716, 171S, 1720, 172, Second Avenue.
This space is reserved for a plat of
SCHNELL'S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF
ROCK ISLAND,
which is opened for the sale of lots. It is loca
ted south of Ninth avenue between Twen
tieth and Twenty-fourth streets.
The Plat will be ready in a few days.
pring Goods
ARRIVING NOW.
W are opening tne most complete line of Hardware specialties Ter aSarad ta Bck
Island beside onr regular s oc of staple and builders Hardww
and Mechanics tools.
Poeket, Table as Kitchen Cutlery,
Nails, Steel Goods, Tijiware, Stoves, Etc.
FXCIALTIXS Climax Cooks and Ranees, "Florida" and Wllbe, Hot W.t tt.
twbb steam uousrs, Fsstenr Germ Proof Filters, Economy Faraaecs, Tta
a4 Efcest Xroa work. Plumbing, Copperemlthlng and Steam Fitting.
BAKER & HOUSMAN,
1823 Second aventieRock Island.